The agency usually tries to place children with foster families of their own race and religion. Sometimes this is not possible and you may be asked to take a child whose race and/or religion differs from yours. Perhaps you feel it makes no difference to you and that you could be comfortable with such an arrangement. But it is likely to make quite a difference to the child. This is because the child will experience the differences as further loss.

     Children who are placed transracially will often suffer not only the loss of their family, their home and their things, they will have the added pain of being separated from a community of people who are like themselves. Sometimes this will mean the loss of familiar foods, eating patterns and social customs.

     You will not be expected to change your entire way of living, but if you keep yourself aware of the losses and what they mean to the child, you can make things easier. Allow the child to bring things from home. With children of another race, pictures may be particularly important. The child may feel better if such pictures can be prominently displayed.

     If you are white and your child is black, it may help to have some black magazines around. These are usually available in your public library. Contact with other children of the child's own race will help the child feel less strange in your home.

     You will think of other ways to help as long as you keep yourself aware of the additional losses the child may be feeling.

     If you accept into your home children whose religion differs from yours, you will be expected to encourage them to attend a church of their own faith.

     Many foster parents have found their own lives enriched by some of these differences. Children will enjoy teaching you different things if they sense that you are aware of their feelings.

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